5 classic ways to wear out your kids!

Summer is coming to an end and many of our kids have already gone back to school. Summer time is pretty relaxed and bedtime over the past few months has gradually gotten to be later and later. This is fine if you've got no where to be in the morning, but I've got a second grader and a preschooler who need to get back into the habit of regular bedtimes. I've been trying to gradually make their bedtime earlier, but it hasn't worked.

Here's 3 ways we were able to wear out these girls a bit before bedtime - and 2 more ways we have yet to try.

1. Sack Races

I just grabbed some old pillow cases since I didn't have actual sacks and they worked great! They absolutely loved this - and if you've done this you know how tiring it is! We used our garden hose a finish line for the races we did.

2. Crab Races

Even if the kids don't understand the concept of this they can do it their own way.

3. Target Toss

This may not sound like it's very physically tiring, but once the kids are running to grab their birdie it really turns into a sport. I bought this game, but it could easily be made out of a rope or garden hose and then you could toss a rock or some other weighted item into the target.

These last two we didn't have time yet to try out with our girls -

4. 3-legged Race
Now, this one is tricky but is so much fun and so good for coordination. You just need a rope or tie of some sort to tie each team together at the leg and you are ready to go.

5. Wheelbarrow Race
I really wish we had time for this one also. I'm not sure how far the kids would have been able to go, but it would have been good for some laughs I'm sure. If you've never done this, here's how you do it: Two people pair up and one is the wheelbarrow and the other is the "pusher". The wheelbarrow person gets on their hands and feet facing the ground and the pusher holds onto the wheelbarrow's feet. The wheelbarrow has to walk with their hands to the finish line while the pusher walks behind them holding their feet.

We've been moving that bedtime up too! Our littlest guy isn't in Preschool until next year, but we have a second grader who hasn't been going to bed until 10:30-11:00 over summer vacation. I managed to get him settled and in bed at 9:30 last night, but he still didn't fall asleep until 10. I'm thinking sack races this evening. And maybe an obstacle course. Have you tried setting one up for the girls? I have one posted up on my blog if you'd like to see our take on it. :) Visiting from the It's Playtime hop! I would love it if you stopped by my blog to say hi! :)

Mandi at boredombustingmommy.blogspot.comand here's a link for the obstacle course post: http://boredombustingmommy.blogspot.com/2011/07/back-yard-obstacle-course.html

Love it - mine crash at 6:30 PM. We play hard during the day! My 1 year old and 5 year old enjoy wheelbarrow walking, but we don't race it. My 5 year old went to Physical Therapy when she was a baby and they started these with her before 1!

My children are right into wheelbarrow races (after reading Dogger by Shirley Hughes) as well as eggs and spoon races. I think they would also really enjoy sack races, so we'll be putting some of our old pillowcases to good use and having some family fun. Thank you for reminding me of these great ideas.